Meet the Experts at Fisho’s Tackle World Hervey Bay

Owners

Bane and Maina are the proud owners of Fisho’s Tackle World Hervey Bay, a family-run business built on passion, experience, and a lifelong love of fishing.

Bane’s dream of owning a tackle store began when he was just 15 years old. In 2016, that dream became a reality when the opportunity arose to purchase Fisherman’s Corner in Hervey Bay — a store he had been visiting since he was a young teenager. With Maina’s full support, the deal was finalised, and in November 2016, Bane and Maina officially became owners.

Six months later, they joined the Tackle World group and rebranded the business as Fisho’s Tackle World Hervey Bay.

Today, they run the store alongside their son Dane, who manages all of the day to day activities to ensure that the shop remains the “Go To” destination for local and visiting angler’s alike.. Together, this passionate family team brings decades of knowledge and hands-on experience to the local fishing community.

Bane has been fishing for over 50 years, with Maina by his side as his fishing offsider for the past 32 years. Their love of fishing spans both freshwater and saltwater adventures. They enjoy chasing:

• Freshwater species – barra, bass, and saratoga
• Estuary and beach species – whiting, grunter, flathead, barra, salmon and jacks
• Reef and offshore species – sweetlip, coral trout, tuskies, tuna, and mackerel

They also love targeting mud crabs (muddies), prawns, and squid.

Their deep local knowledge, combined with decades of fishing experience across a wide range of species and techniques, makes Fisho’s Tackle World Hervey Bay more than just a store — it’s a hub for passionate anglers.

Owner & Manager

Dane has been fishing his entire life, and it is his greatest passion. He has been immersed in the fishing industry since the age of 16 and took over Fisho’s Tackle World Hervey Bay in 2016. With decades of hands-on experience both in the tackle industry and on the water, Dane brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the store and is always ready to help anglers of all skill levels get the most out of their time fishing.

A passionate and highly experienced angler, Dane spent over a decade tournament fishing for Australian bass, developing a deep understanding of lure techniques, fish behaviour, and tournament strategy. Today his fishing interests are incredibly diverse — from chasing bread-and-butter species locally through to fast-paced pelagics and powerful reef species offshore. He enjoys both lure and fly fishing and is also an avid spearfisher, regularly exploring remote areas such as the Swains and the Coral Sea.

Dane’s favourite species to target include GT, dogtooth tuna, billfish, coral trout, red emperor, and barramundi, giving him strong experience across estuary, reef, and bluewater fishing styles.

One of Dane’s greatest strengths as a tackle specialist is his intimate local knowledge of the Hervey Bay fishery. Having spent countless hours on the water, he has first-hand experience fishing throughout the Great Sandy Straits, the Mary, Susan, and Burrum River systems, the local islands and reefs, Platypus Bay, and the waters north of Breaksea Spit. This broad experience allows him to provide practical, up-to-date advice on seasonal patterns, locations, techniques, and gear for the region.

Dane loves Hervey Bay for its incredible year-round fishing opportunities — a truly diverse fishery where you can target almost anything that swims. Whether customers are chasing their first fish, refining their technique, or preparing for a serious offshore adventure, Dane is always keen to share his knowledge and help point them in the right direction. 🎣

Floor Manager & In-Store Fishing Expert

Logan is a passionate member of the Fisho’s team, bringing extensive industry knowledge and hands-on experience across all aspects of fishing. With a strong enthusiasm for the latest marine electronics and fishing tackle, he enjoys helping customers stay ahead with modern technology on the water.

From rivers to reefs and every species in between, Logan has explored a wide range of fishing styles over the years, with his current passion focused on chasing saltwater barramundi. His deep knowledge of techniques, gear, and fish behaviour allows him to provide practical advice that works on the water.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned angler, Logan delivers expert guidance and genuine, high-quality service. He takes pride in ensuring every customer receives the same level of support and attention, helping them gear up confidently for success on the water. 🎣

Logan’s passion for marine electronics also led him to start Marine Tech Hire, a side business offering fully portable LiveScope systems for hire. He runs two setups — a Garmin and a Lowrance — giving customers the chance to try before they buy and experience live scoping firsthand. Hit Logan up to see what all the excitement is about — you won’t be disappointed!

In-store Fishing & Spear Fishing Expert!

Kealen is an accomplished local fisho with vast experience within various facets of the fishing industry. From his countless hours spent harassing Urangan Pier’s most sought-after target species, to his fine-tuned approach to pursuing Hervey Bay’s pelagic population, Kealen is your go-to man for all things pier or pelagic.       

Spending a few years crewing the popular coral sea charter vessel, Big Cat Reality, Kealen offers hands-on expertise that can help you plan your next charter trip offshore to the Swains Reefs or beyond. Enlist Kealen’s assistance in gearing-up and he will ensure a seem-less transition from tackle store to hook-up.

Kealen is also an avid diver and spear fisho, so he is the man to see for all your spearfishing and snorkelling needs. He can rig your guns and ensure you are fitted out with the most appropriate and comfortable attire for your next underwater adventure.

 In-Store Fishing Expert

Jacko grew up on the Gold Coast, where he quickly gained a reputation as a flathead specialist. From a young age, he developed a deep love for fishing, learning the ins and outs of local species, techniques, and tackle. His passion soon took him north, and he began regularly travelling to Hervey Bay to explore its waters and diverse fisheries.

Over the years, Jacko has built expertise across a wide range of species, including flathead, spotted mackerel, longtail tuna, golden trevally, queenfish, and coral trout. His time fishing the Bay’s waters allowed him to develop extensive local knowledge, from estuaries and river systems to reefs and offshore grounds.

In 2023, Jacko made the move to Hervey Bay permanently, joining the Fisho’s crew and fully immersing himself in the local fishery. Since then, he has expanded his focus to include the Bay’s prized threadfin salmon and barramundi, exploring new techniques and spots to continue learning and sharing his passion.

Jacko combines his hands-on fishing experience with a friendly, approachable attitude, making him a trusted source of advice for both beginners and seasoned anglers. Whether you’re looking for guidance on the right tackle, techniques, or local hotspots, Jacko is always ready to share his expertise and help anglers make the most of their time on the water.

In-store Fishing Expert!

If you’ve spent any time in store, you’ve probably already had a yarn with Scotty. Born and bred into a family of mad-keen fishos, he’s been chasing fish for as long as he could hold a rod. Fishing isn’t just a hobby for him — it’s in his blood.

These days, Scotty gets just as much of a buzz helping customers crack the code as he does landing fish himself. Whether it is dialling in your lure selection or working out why the bite shut down, he’s all about the details.

Hervey Bay is home to one of the most diverse fisheries in the country — from reef and pelagics to flats and estuary species — and Scotty froths on all of it. But if there’s one species that really fires him up, it’s saltwater barra. He loves the technical side of it — reading tides, understanding fish behaviour, refining presentations and turning theory into hook-ups.

Outside the shop, Scotty also runs his own business Focused Fishing, where he helps anglers get more out of their time on the water. From teaching people how to properly use their sounders and understand what they’re seeing, to improving fishing techniques and installing marine electronics, he’s all about helping fishos fish smarter.

Pop in, have a chat and let’s get you one step closer to your next PB.

In-store Fishing Expert & Fishing Report Author

Jason’s 25 years in the local fishing tackle trade, coupled with years working on the water in and around Hervey Bay, means he has an intimate knowledge of our local fisheries. Having travelled Australia fishing, Jason can also help you gear-up for your next adventure beyond the Fraser Coast.

Self-taught from years of pioneering techniques considered commonplace today, Jason shares this knowledge via our Weekly Fishing Reports. His reports offer insight into what’s biting, where, when and how to catch them, in perhaps the most comprehensive and widely-read report of its kind in Australia.

Once passionate about reef fishing inshore and offshore, prawning, squidding and a particular focus on jacks, barra and threadies in our estuaries, Jason’s primary interest these days is impoundment barra fishing. Over 20 years of on-water experience on Qld’s lakes and an insane almost-weekly assault on Lake Monduran in recent years, means he has an understanding of these fish and the impoundment fisheries like few others.

In-store Fishing & Marine Expert!

Damo has over 20 years of local fishing knowledge, beginning as a youngster exploring Hervey Bay’s waterways before and after school. His passion for fishing grew over the years, including experience as a fishing guide in the Northern Territory, giving him a wide range of skills both onshore and offshore.

He also brings more than a decade of experience in commercial whale watching and tourism in the Bay, combined with professional qualifications including Master 5 and Marine Engineering certifications. This makes him not only a fishing expert but also a trusted authority on boating, safety, and marine operations.

Damo’s fishing interests cover both saltwater and freshwater species, from chasing barramundi and bass in local impoundments to targeting marlin and pelagics in the Bay. His extensive knowledge of the area and first-hand experience on the water make him a go-to source for advice on locations, techniques, and tackle.

Drop in to see Damo for expert guidance, great customer service, and practical advice when gearing up to fish the local waters and surrounding areas. 🎣

In-store Fishing Expert!

Andy “Chewy” Chew has been fishing since before he could walk, learning the craft from his father and grandfather in his hometown of Maryborough. Fishing is his lifelong passion, and he brings decades of experience, extensive local knowledge, and a practical approach to every conversation in-store.

Chewy knows the waters of Hervey Bay like the back of his hand, from the estuaries and river systems to the bays, islands, and reefs. He is equally skilled in fly and lure fishing and genuinely practices what he preaches, offering customers real-world advice that works on the water.

He loves targeting all species, from chasing barramundi, jacks, and threadfin salmon in the saltwater rivers and creeks to pursuing bass, saratoga, and freshwater barra in the region’s impoundments. He also enjoys soaking a pot for mud crabs, sharing his tips and techniques for the perfect catch.

Family is important to Chewy, and he now enjoys passing on his knowledge and love of fishing to his young fella, making sure the next generation gets the same hands-on experience that shaped him. Whether customers are after local tips, gear advice, or technique guidance, Chewy is always ready to help anglers get the most out of their time on the water.